Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 21 October 2021
360. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the EU Council of Agriculture Ministers has considered the Joint Research Centre report on the farm to fork strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51812/21]
View answerTo date, the Joint Research Centre technical report on the modelling of environmental and climate ambition in the agricultural sector with the CAPRI model has not been specifically considered by Agricultural Ministers at Agri-Fish Council.
However, the technical report was discussed by the Special Committee on Agriculture at their meeting on 20 September 2021.
While the report contains many valuable insights, it is important that these are built on further. I consider it essential that further work should be undertaken, and completed as a matter of urgency.
I have consistently sought a comprehensive impact assessment on the Farm to Fork Strategy, and I welcome the acknowledgement in the technical report of the necessity for such a comprehensive impact assessment with regard to a legislative framework for sustainable food systems.
I also welcome the clear acknowledgement in the report of the scale of the challenge faced by the agricultural sector, and while I agree that the new CAP will strongly support environmental and climate action, we must acknowledge that the CAP cannot do everything.
A key concern is that environmental gains will be accompanied by a decline in production and further impacts on incomes, and I believe that this issue needs further assessment given the vital role of farming in maintaining vibrant rural areas.
Of particular concern to Ireland is the confirmation that environmental gains by the EU will leak out to other world regions.
This is of huge concern, and we will need to work collaboratively with international partners if we are to achieve our global ambition.
